YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — Emergency personnel in Yankton are preparing for an influx of up to 1,000 people during the 2015 World Archery Youth Championships in the city in June.
A security briefing was held Thursday at the National Field Archery Association Easton Yankton Archery Center, the Daily Press & Dakotan reported. Topics ranged from fires to bad weather.
The tournament June 8-14 is expected to draw competitors from 60 countries. First responders in the area deal with large crowds at other events, but the archery tournament will be different, Yankton Deputy Fire Chief Larry Nickles said.
“With the archery tournament, we're hosting people from all over the world. Everything we do may seem strange to them, and many of their customs may seem strange to us.”
The city's Chamber of Commerce is offering cultural diversity training to help out.
The World Youth Championships are held every two years. The last two tournaments were in China and Poland. The last U.S. city to host was Ogden, Utah, near Salt Lake City, in 2009.
“This is a phenomenal event and recognizes South Dakota,” said Steve Pluta, homeland security director for South Dakota's Department of Public Safety. “The key thing is to plan so the athletes, staff and community have a safe event.”
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Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan, http://www.yankton.net/
